Five birders, myself with Ian Worley, Pat Folsom with Ali Wagner, and Tyler Pockette on his own all converged on Country Club Rd. in Addison at sunset today in search of Short-eared Owls. A Rough-legged Hawk, then Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, then two Harriers kept us entertained as we waited. The Harriers kept working the fields as it got darker and darker until seemingly without transition they were suddenly replaced by a single Short-eared Owl. It flew along a fence line and perched on a fence post and tree about 100 yards in front of us allowing us all good looks at it through scopes. It then flew around the field where it was joined by a second Short-eared, the two of them putting on a great display swirling and circling together until some cars came up the road after which the owls disappeared into the darkness. The five of us all congratulated each other on successfully completed mission and headed home. 

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Ron Payne
Middlebury, VT